Valencia coach Marcelino has labelled his team’s season “a miracle” and says his side will do all they can to finish second in La Liga.
A 1-0 triumph over Espanyol on Sunday was Valencia’s fifth straight win in the league and lifted them above Real Madrid into third. They are three points behind second-place Atletico Madrid with seven games remaining.
“For some, this is close to a miracle,” Marcelino said in a postmatch news conference. “For me, it is a miracle, and it’s thanks to the players we have. They work hard every day. They compete at this level. We are in round 31 and we have 65 points and are above Madrid and three points adrift of Atletico.
“We are further away from Barcelona like everyone else because they have not lost a game all season. I give a lot of value to this victory, to what we have done.”
Valencia finished 12th in each of the past two seasons, but Marcelino, who took over from Voro Gonzalez in May, has brought a change in fortunes.
Under Marcelino, Valencia had their best La Liga start, winning eight and drawing three of their opening 12 games. They also equalled the record set in 2001-02, when Rafa Benitez’s side went unbeaten in 13 straight games and won the league title.
The goal now is to qualify for the Champions League. Runners-up in 2000 and 2001, they last joined the competition in the 2015-16 season.
“What really makes me enthusiastic is to win every Sunday, to remain competitive, to please the fans, to remain humble,” Marcelino said. “The Champions League is not confirmed yet, but we are close and it cannot escape us. The sooner we get it, the better it will be.
“I am also enthusiastic about finishing runners-up. More than the position we are in, it’s the idea of continuing to be ambitious, to maintain our hunger and determination to win.”
Marcelino also praised Rodrigo, whose seventh-minute goal earned Valencia three points against Espanyol.
The striker, who scored in Spain’s 1-1 friendly draw against Germany two weeks ago, has found the back of the net in his last five league appearances. He has 15 league goals and is the second highest-scoring Spaniard in the league behind Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas.
“[Rodrigo] is a great player,” Marcelino said. “Fortunately, Rodrigo is showing the talent that he has and we are all delighted for him. He not only scores, he plays for the team, helping in attack and in defence. He is playing at a very high level. I’m sure he will continue to score more goals.”
Valencia, who have taken 25 points from a possible 27 and have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games, play at Barcelona on Saturday. The clubs drew 1-1 in Valencia in the reverse fixture in November.
Adriana Garcia is a Valencia-based football writer who covers La Liga for ESPN FC.
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